High speed relay



Feb. 11, 1958 A. E. SPRANDO 2,823,281

HIGH SPEED RELAY Filed sept. 27, 195e M Wm 2,5 VTI United States arentHIGH SPEED RELAY Anthony E. Sprando, Portland, Greg., assigner to IronFireman Manufacturing Company, Portland, Oreg.

Application September 27, 1956, Serial No. 612,495 8 Claims. (Cl. 20G-87) This invention reiates generally to electric relay mechanisms andmore particularly to sensitive millisecond relays required to withstandmechanical or thermal shock or a wide range of mechanical vibrationwithout loss of ycalibration or operating reliability.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide such a relayhaving no organic structural parts to vary in size, shape or positionunder thermal or mechanical shock or vibration.

It is a second object of this invention to provide such a relay designedto require no organic structural parts.

How these and other objects are attained is explained in the followingdescription referring to the attached drawing in which Fig. l is a sideelevation View in partial section of a relay with a single pole switch,the relay being made in accordance with the teaching of this inventionand being encapsulated in a standard form of hermetically sealedcontainer having the electric terminals for the relay insulatedly sealedthrough the end of the container in a well known standard pattern.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with an additional relayencapsulated within the same container.

Fig. 3 is a View in plan section along the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in side elevation and partial section asviewed from the line 44 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a View in plan section along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several igures ofthedrawing.

Referring now to the drawing at 11 is shown a container base rabbeted at12 to be received in the open end of container cup 13 to which base 11is soldered in iinal assembly.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5 there are ten spaced electric terminals, 1dto 23, hermetically and insulatedly sealed with glass 24 intoappropriate holes 25 in base 11. Metal axle 26 `fixed axially to base 11is formed with a longitudinal rib, not shown, to require properregistration, in use, of terminals 14, 23 in a plug receptacle, notshown, common in the art. Fixed upwardly axially on base 11 is a stud 27having its upper end threaded, as shown. Toroidal ceramic insulator 2-8cored centrally to receive stud 27 has an upwardly extending neck, notshown, received by a mating centrally bored hole, not shown, inelectromagnet base part 29. Insulating washer 30 resting on base part 29together with lock washer 31, nut 32 and ceramic insulator 28insulatedly secure magnetic circuit base part 29. to container base 11.

As particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4 relay frame 33 is shown tocomprise an annular ring 34 attened on opposite sides as at 35 andrabbeted at 36 to enter cap 37 to which ring 34 is soldered in assembly.Insulatedly and hermetically sealed within annular ring 34 by a fillingof inorganic glass material 38 are magnetic circuit pole pieces 39, 4G,and electrical bushings 41 to 44 internally threaded to receive screws45 to 48 for the purpose of securing stationary contact brackets 49, Silin place as shown.

As shown particularly in Figure 4 for pole piece 4t), electromagneticcoils 51 and 52 are placed axially over pole pieces 39, 40 after whichmagnetic circuit base 29 'i ce i is riveted onto pole pieces 39, 40, allbefore magnetic base 29 is fixed to container base 11 by stud 27 and nut3f..

The upper or free ends oi both pole pieces 3d, 4t? have half roundsections removed leaving diametral flat surfaces in the same plane onboth pole pieces. Reed arinature 53 has one end positioned as shown andwelded to the flat surface of pole piece 4t? after which segment 54 ofpole piece d is replaced as shown and welded to reed 53 and pole piece4i?. Normally the other end of reed 53 would lay` adjacent the ilatsurface of pole piece 3?.

The relayv magnetic circuit is seen to include magnetic base part 29,pole pieces 39, and reed 53, all of magnetic material. The magneticcircuit is arranged to oe energized when an electric current is passedthrough coiis 51, 52 connected so that the magnetomotive forces of thetwo coils are additive in setting up the magnetic field in the magneticcircuit. Two ends of the coils Si and SZ, not shown, are connectedtogether while as shown in Fig. l the other two ends ci coils 51 and 52are connected to relay terminals 16 and 15; The magnetic circuit partsnot electrically insulated one from the other so that by connecting basepart to terminal 1S as shown, terminal 18 is electricaliy connected toreed 53 and the relay switch moving Contact 5S carried by reed 53 asshown in Figure 3.

Stationary contacts 56 and 57 of resilient non-magnetic electricallyconducting material are seen in Fig. 3 to be welded at one endrespectively to contact brackets d@ and 5i.. Contact bracket 49insulatedly supported by screws 4 5, 46, set into bushings 41, 42 inglass 3S, seated into ring 3dof relay frame 33 is shown to be connectedthrough bushing 42 to relay terminal Contact bracket Sd insulatedlysupported by screws fi?, 4S set into bushings 4.3, 44, in glass 38,sealed into ring 34 of relay frame 33y is indicated to be connectedthrough bushing 44, not shown, to relay terminal 17.

It is seen that of the ten relay terminals 14 to 23 set into containerbase 11 live are required when a single relay only is encapsulated inthe container as shown in Fig. l of the live terminals used, 15 and 16feed current to the operating coils 51, 52, 18 connects to the movingcontact of the S. P. D. T. relay switch and 17 and 22 connect to the twostationary contacts of the relay switch. Thus tive terminals are neededfor one relay and the additional live are available when an additionalrely is encapsulated in the same container as shown in scheme in Fig. 2.It will be noticed in Figure 2 that the flattened edges 35 of rings 34allow clearance from the inside of container cup 13 for the wires, notshown, from the upper end of the can to be brought down to the terminalend of cup 13 to conneet the second relay with the relay terminal. Theparticular terminals usedv for a particular purpose is a matter decidedby the use to which the relay is put.

When a single relay is used it is ordinarily tightly supported incontainer 11, 13 as shown in Figure l by use of the cylindrical spacer.58 and the annularly rippled spring washer 59. When two relays areencapsulated in the same container 11, 13, switch cap 37 is not used therelays are turned switch end to switch end as shown in Figure 2 andsecurely relatively positioned by entering the rabbeted surfaces 36 ofthe respective relay base rings into the opposite ends of spacer 58.Ceramic insulating disl; 6l) is then used between the upper relay partsand the spring washer 59.

To return to the construction of the relay switch, it is seen in Figure3 that opposing spring leaves 61, 62 have adjacent ends weldedrespectively to opposite sides of magnetic pole piece 4i), 54. The freeends of leaves 61, 62 are oppositely resiliently biased against theopposite sides of reed 53. Screws 63, 64, threadedly engaged throughcontact brackets 5i), 49 respectively are respectively adjustable tocontact leaves 61, 62'with pressures determined for two distinctpurposes. One purpose is to position the free end of reed 53 away frompole piece 39 when coils 51, 52 are unenergized so that moving contact55 will be in contact with stationary contact 56. The'other importantpurpose is to adust the biasing forces of leaves 61, 62 on reed 53 toresist the motion of reed S3 by the minute rubbing of leaves 61, 62 onreed 53 when reed 53 moves to shift movable contact 55 from onestationary contact 56 or 57 to the other.

It should also be noticed that screws 65, 66 threadedly engaged throughcontact brackets 50, 49 respectively are respectively adjustable toposition resilient stationary contacts 57, 56 with respect to movingcontact 55 in the respective two positions reed 53 will take when coils51, 52 are energized or unenergized. The teetering support of resilientcontacts 57, 56 between the ends thereof by screws 65, 66 is effectivein preventing contact bounce of moving contact 55 on striking either ofthe stationary contacts since on the attempt to bounce oli the contact55 supported on reed 53 the energy of the reed is tirst absorbed by theyielding stationary contact less the frictional energy absorption of thefriction leaves 61, 62 and then the remaining energy is returned to thereed 53 by the stationary contact against the friction energy absorptionof leaves 61, 62. While the motions and energies are small the result ofthe combination of the reed with its biasing leaves and the resilientstationary contacts is to produce a relay switch with substantially nocontact bounce.

It of course should be pointed out as a requirement of the disclosedrigid frame structure having no organic insulating parts that each ofthe screws 63, 64, 65 and 66 are tipped with Pyrex glass on their innerends so that no wear or-change of calibration will be caused by theslight rubbing when the reed structure is in motion of contacts 57, 56on screws 65, 66 or of leaves 61, 62 on screws 63, 64. The glass tips ofscrews 63, 64 also electrically insulate the vibrating reed structurefrom a respective stationary contact structure when the reed structureis in contact with the other stationary contact structure through themoving contact 55.

Having recited some of the objects of this invention and disclosed anddescribed a preferred rform in which the invention may be practiced, theuse, construction, adjustment and operation of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A mechanically stable high speed relay comprising an inorganicelectrically insulating mechanically rigid base disk, a pair of spacedparallel magnetic pole pieces hermetically sealed in said base to extendfrom both sides thereof, a magnetic yoke connecting the ends of saidpole pieces on one side of said disk, a magnetic resilient reed havingone end tixed to the other end of one of said pole pieces on the otherside of said disk, the free end of said reed, extending towards theother end of the other of said pole pieces on said other side of saiddisk to terminate there-alongside, a second resilient reed having oneend lixed to said other end of said one of said pole pieces laterallyspaced from said one end of said magnetic reed, the free end of saidsecond resilient reed being biased against said free end of saidmagnetic reed to bias the free end of said magnetic reed away from saidother end of said other of said pole pieces, and an electromagnetic coilsurrounding part of the series magnetic circuit formed by said yoke,said pole pieces and said magnetic reed, said coil being adapted whenenergized to energize said series magnetic circuit to cause the free endof said magnetic reed to move against the bias of said second reedtowards said other end of said other of said pole pieces.

2. The mechanically stable high speed relay of claim 1 including a thirdresilient reed having one end xed to said other end of said one of saidpole pieces laterally spaced from said one end of said magnetic reed onthe other side thereof from said one end of said second resilient -reed,the free end of said third resilient reed being biased against 4 saidfree end of said magnetic reed in opposition to the free end of saidsecond magnetic reed.

3. The mechanically stable high speed relay of claim 2 including amovable contact moved by the free end of said magnetic reed as saidmagnetic reed is moved, a stationary contact structure insulatedlysealed in sai-d base to extend therefrom on the said other side thereof,said iirst stationary contact structure including a first stationarycontact positioned to be contacted by said movable contact when saidcoil is deenergized and the free end of said magnetic reed is moved awayfrom said other end of said other of said pole pieces by said tirstresilient reed.

4. The mechanically stable high speed relay of claim 3 including asecond stationary contact structure insulatedly sealed in said base toextend therefrom on the said other side Ythereof spaced from said firststationary contact structure on the other side of said reeds therefrom,said second stationary contact structure including a second stationarycontact positioned in opposition to said rst stationary contact to becontacted by said movable contact when said coil is energized and thefree end of said magnetic reed is moved by the energy of said magneticcircuit towards said other end of said other of said pole pieces againstthe bias of said tirst resilient reed.

Y 5. The mechanically stable relay of claim 3 in which said firststationary contact includes a first resilient part secured at one end tosaid first stationary contact structure with the other end of said firstresilient part biased away from said movable contact and said lirststationary contact structure includes a first adjustable meanspositioned to Contact said first resilient part between the Vendsthereof adjustably rockably and resiliently to position the free end ofsaid first stationary contact with respect to said movable contact.

6. The mechanically stable relay of claim 4 in which said secondstationary contact includes a second resilient part secured at one endto sai-d second stationary contact structure with the other end of saidsecond resilient part biased away from said movable contact and saidsecond jstationary contact structure includes a second adjustable meanspositioned to contact said second resilient part between the endsthereof adjustably, rockably and resiliently to position the free end ofsaid second stationary contact with respect to said movable contact.

7. The mechanically stable relay of claim 3 in which said firststationary contact structure includes a third adjustable meanspositioned to contact said second resilient reed adjustably rockably andresiliently to position the free end of said magnetic reed by saidsecond resilient reed.

8. The mechanically stable relay of claim 4 in which said secondstationary contact structure includes a fourth adjustable meanspositioned to contact sai-d third resilient reed adjustably rockably andresiliently to position the free end of said magnetic reed by said thirdresilient reed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,013,513 Dressel Sept. 3, 1935 2,156,048 Baier et al. Apr. 25, 19392,247,469 Barrett July l, 1941 2,303,952 Plieger Dec. l, 1942 2,677,027Woods Apr. 27, 1954 2,718,568 Somers Sept. 20, 1955 2,718,570 CaldwellSept. 20, 1955 2,768,263 Callihan Oct. 23, 1956 2,774,846V Lee Dec. 18,1956 2,791,662 Mertler May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 241,291 SwitzerlandJuly l, 1946 412,209 France -l Apr. 27, 1910

